Growing up there are so many people there for you, so many people who are going to support you and encourage you and love you. When I think back on my childhood and younger years, one person in particular sticks out to me as someone who did this for me. She was the one who picked me up from school, the one who made my favorite meals, and the one always making sure everything was just right for me.

This one is for you Mimi.

First and foremost I will start with my thank you's (because I always do). Thank you for picking me up from school all those days and bringing a candy bar and water for me. Thank you for all the homework help - those elementary school worksheets were difficult. Thank you for going out to the swing set with me once homework was all done and pushing me on the swings for hours. Thank you for making my favorite meals anytime I asked, I am due for some pansit by the way). Thank you for driving me down the Cape all those times and buying my favorite snacks every week. Thank you for being at every school concert without fail.

Thank you for being someone I tell just about everything too.

Thank you for always answering the phone, despite the time, and despite the insignificance of my story. Thank you for the weekly emails and always watching my favorite shows with me. Oh and also finishing Dominos cinnasticks with me while watching 27 episodes of Law and Order SVU. But seriously, thank you for being my rock through so much and thank you for everything you have done. It does not go unnoticed.

I'll move on to tell you how absolutely amazing you are as a human overall. Your ability to talk to anyone and genuinely care about what they have to say is amazing. Your charisma for everything you do in life is incredible and so admirable. Your ability to have fun, and laugh like no tomorrow is amazing. Your ability to make someone smile and bring joy to their life for even a minute is amazing. Yes, your worry wart side can be kind of frustrating, but your loving side that comes along with it is never forgotten.

Watching you and Papa throughout the years and the love and care you two have for each other is amazing, you two showed me that despite the arguments and the fights at the end of the day an "I love you" and a kiss can fix just about everything. At the end of the day, you are one of my role models, one of the people that someday I hope I can be like (I also hope I inherit your cooking genes at some point). But for now, I am so glad that I get to continue to watch you be this incredible person.

Life gave me some pretty amazing people, and you certainly are one of them. I am so beyond lucky to call you my Mimi, I hope someday (in the far future) I can be at least half the Mimi you are.

I love you,

Me